Some Musicians Playing at Festival in 2019
Spanish pianist Fabio Milano
Fabio Miano – Jazz Pianist
Born in Brindisi, Italy, December 1st, 1956.
His family moved to Montreal when he was a young child.
He began his musical studies at the “Royal Toronto Conservatory”
when he was eight years old.
At the age of twelve, his family moved to Brussels, Belgium, where
he began studying jazz with pianist Paul Lambert.
In 1975 Fabio returned to Montreal to continue studying music at
“Concordia University” where he graduated in 1979.
Between 1975 and 1979 he performed regularly with various groups
including the Concordia University and McGill University Big Bands .
He also led his own trio and was a member of the Collin Biggins
Quintet which performed nightly at the “Four Seasons” in Montreal.
In 1979, Fabio moved to Valencia , Spain, where he performed
regularly in clubs and festivals all over the country.
Between 1983 and 1986 Fabio taught music in Bologna, Italy ,in a
cultural program subsidised by the Italian government.
During this period, he had the opportunity to work with some of
Italy's finest jazz musicians such as Massimo Urbani, Claudio
Fasoli, Larry Nocella, and Tulio DiPiscopo among others, as well as
accompanying American artists such as Steve Lacy, Bobby Watson
and Dave Schnitter.
At this time, Fabio became a member of tenor saxophonist Dave
Schnitter's band, performing regularly in different European cities.
In 1986 he returned to Spain to become a member of “6 en 1”.
This sextet, led by Spanish guitarist Carlos Gonzalbez, was
awarded 1st prize at the Valencia Jazz Competition and
subsequently recorded an album subsidised by the Valencia
government and Radio Nacional de España.
In 1989 Fabio returned to Canada. This time he established his
residence in Toronto , where he performed with some of the finest
jazz musicians on the scene there, such as ;
Grant Stewart, Bob Mover, Pat LaBarbera, Kirk Macdonald, Lorne
Lofsky, Jerry Fuller, Neil Swainson, Phil Dwyer, Kevin Dean and
Dave Young among others.
He performed at the DuMaurier Jazz Festival in 1990 and 1991.
In 1992 , Fabio established his residence in Spain once again.
He co-founded “Milestones Trio” which accompanied a long list of
well known international jazz artists.
Fabio currently resides in Alicante , Spain
Jamie Gatti
Jamie Gatti – Biography
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Jamie has a reputation for versatility in playing all musical styles from classical, to jazz, rock, Celtic and theatre. A professional bassist for 35 years, Gatti has toured and recorded with many artists from around the globe. Composer/arranger/producer and now bandleader are his interests at this time.
Jamie began playing during high school under the tutelage of music teacher Ron MacKay. From Ron he learned many of the skills necessary to be a professional player. He started work in the late 1970’s in Halifax doing shows and commercials for TV and Radio and playing club dates. In 1980 he accepted an invitation to audition for the RCMP band and won the position.
Gatti moved to Ottawa in 1981 joining the RCMP band. While with that group he toured Canada extensively and around the world performing and recording. He also participated in the Ottawa music scene playing in many jazz clubs, sessions, theatre shows and with a few orchestras. He was fortunate to work under conductors such as Boris Brott, David Foster, Erich Kunzel, Newton Waylon and Howard Cable.
In 1994 Gatti retired from the RCMP and returned home to Nova Scotia. He presently tours and records with the Barra MacNeils. As well as recording with other Canadian artists, he plays sessions at CBC, with Symphony Nova Scotia and at Neptune Theatre.
Since 1992 Gatti recorded 4 CDs, all solo bass themed, with original tunes and rearranged standards. The last one ‘Over Time’, was nominated in the Best Jazz Artist category in the 2007 East Coast Music Awards. Also nominated, 2008 East Coast Music Awards with original music the group Tonic; 2007 Music Nova Scotia Musician of the year and Jazz Recording of the year. Playing all styles of music has filtered into his writing, combining many of these simultaneously. Gatti’s home base is Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Bill Stephenson: In over forty years as a musician Bill has recorded for Elektra records while still in his teens, opened for the Doors, backed up John Lee Hooker, put performing and recording bands behind some of Canada’s best loved musicians including Amos Garrett, Colleen Peterson and Linda Carvery. He has hosted his own National radio series for CBC. He has been a contributing side man to multi award winning albums by Garrett Mason, Thom Swift ,Hot Toddy ,and now includes his own win with a 2008 ECMA for best Jazz Album. His participation in the Jazz/Blues idiom has earned him a respected place in the national music spectrum.
Tom Easley: Tom has earned a reputation as one of Eastern Canada’s first-call bassists. Throughout his successful career as a performer and session musician he has played with many of the top jazz, blues and folk acts. Tom co-leads the ECMA winning group, Hot Toddy Trio, with whom he has co-produced and released seven CD’s. With Hot Toddy, Tom has performed at most major jazz and blues festivals across Canada, Europe and the United States. Tom received the 2007 ECMA for Jazz Recording of the Year and has been nominated three times for Bass Player of the Year by Toronto’s Maple Blues Society. He has a Music Degree from St. FX in Honours Jazz Performance and holds a faculty position at NSCC’s Music Arts Program.
Geoff Arsenault: Geoff started playing dance halls in rural Nova Scotia at age 14. He travelled the blues and jazz circuit in Halifax and Ottawa in the late 70s and by the mid 80’s he moved to Toronto and began to tour the country and world with artists such as Rita MacNeil, Morgan Davis, Carlos del Junco and Collin Linden, Ray Bonneville, Mary Jane Lamond, Hot Toddy Trio, Thom Swift and more.
Geoff's website: www.geoffarsenault.com
Warren Chiasson:
Biography
Warren Chiassonis a highly regarded musician in the jazz world who has been called "one of the six top vibraphonists of the last half century"by theNew York Times. Originally a member of the George Shearing Quintet, he has emerged as his own man with a distinctive four-mallet technique that he weaves into a percussive, melodic style.
Prior to forming his own group, Chiasson was for many years best known for his creative contributions to the Chet Baker Quartet, the Tal Farlow Trio, and jazz/pop diva Roberta Flack. In addition to recording his own albums, he has played on over 100 recordings with such artists as Eric Dolphy, Bill Dixon, HankCrawfordand was featured on a Grammy Award winning album with B.B. King.
His own albums include "Quartessence","Good Vibes for Kurt Weill"(which was selected as a Billboard Pick of the Week), and "Point Counterpoint"with guitarist Chuck Wayne.
Chiasson, a self-taught musician, was born in the tiny French Acadian fishing village of Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, and grew up in the rich, joyous culture of Cape Breton folk music. His family moved to the larger town of Sydney and his formal musical training began at age nine with classical violin lessons. By thirteen he was playing sessions with noted Scottish fiddlers of the day, performing at dances, stage shows and radio shows. Later, he played the trombone in high school.
When Chiasson was fifteen, he was profoundly inspired by a George Shearingrecording of "I'll Remember April"which led him to study modern jazz. He listened to the records of Shearing, Charlie Parker, Lennie Tristano, and Duke Ellington, practicing late into the night and memorizing their solos on the piano and guitar.
But the seeds of his career were not sown until he entered St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and bought a small xylophone after seeing Lionel Hamptonperform in his home town. Once he started practicing this instrument he decided immediately to make music his career somehow. He left college and enlisted as a trombone player in the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, all the while practicing the vibes over eight hours a day.
Finally, his jazz studies paid off during a trip to New York, when a chance meeting with a promoter led to a vibraphone audition with The George Shearing Quintet. A week later he was part of the quintet, touring the world and playing opposite the likes of Dave Brubeckand The Modern Jazz Quartet.
Since then Chiasson has collaborated with some of the finest musicians in jazz including Paul Bley, Ron Carter, Roland Hannaand the late Jimmy Garrisonfrom the original John Coltrane Quintet. In the late 60s and early 70s, the Warren Chiasson/Jimmy Garrison Duoplayed regularly at Gregory's in New York City, while Chiasson also hosted a weekly jam session at the Signs of the Zodiac in Harlem. Regular guests included Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, Joe Farrell, Wilbur Wareand Joe Chambers.
Today, Chiasson is actively involved in jazz education and continues to travel extensively, performing at concerts and festivals. Recently, at the 20th anniversary of the Atlantic Jazz Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Chiasson was honored for his creative contributions to jazz and for being the first musician from eastern Canada to forge an international jazz career, thereby paving the way for others to follow. The concert was recorded by CBC RADIO for national air play.
For over thirty years Kirk MacDonald has worked and recorded with many leading Canadian, U.S. and International jazz musicians including Claude Ranger, Dave Young, Sam Noto, Sonny Greenwich, Kenny Wheeler, Eddie Henderson, Harold Mabern, Walter Bishop Jr., Tom Harrell, Vic Juris, Peter Bernstein, Adam Nussbaum, Rich Perry, Kurt Elling, David Virelles, Ralph Bowen, Dick Oatts, Ben Monder, Seamus Blake, Jonathan Blake, Lorne Lofsky, Bob Mover, Pat LaBarbera, John Taylor, Ron McClure, Jack DeJohnette, Mike Stern, Jim McNeely, Bob Mintzer, Vince Mendoza, John Clayton, Chris Potter, Glenn Ferris, Maria Schneider, Dave Grusin, Danilo Perez, Adam Rogers, Dennis Mackrel, Nancy Walker, Barry Romberg, Andre White, Rob Smith, Brian Dickinson, Denny Christianson, Bernie Senensky, Phil Nimmons, James Moody, Rosemary Clooney, and the Humber College Faculty Ensemble. Over 100 performances of Kirk MacDonald’s compositions appear on 25 albums.
Ethan Ardelli:
Drummer and composer Ethan Ardelli has been one of Canada’s most acclaimed jazz musicians for more than a decade. Always a cultural omnivore, Ardelli has sought out inspiration in a wide variety of places, from art house films to classical composition and music from around the world, in particular the music of Cuba.
After playing in many notable Canadian bands (David Virelles, Brian Dickinson, Nancy Walker, and Darren Sigesmund), Ardelli was primed to become a bandleader.
Since 2014, Ethan has been leading his own ensemble showcasing his original compositions. The quartet features saxophonist Luis Deniz, pianist Chris Donnelly, and bassist Devon Henderson.
His debut album, The Island of Form, is a showcase for Ardelli’s highly developed compositional skills and drumming prowess. The album was recorded by James Farber, the engineer behind many touchstone jazz recordings, including works by Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, and Brad Mehldau.
As well as leading his own ensemble, Ethan is a member of the Darren Sigesmund Quintet, Nancy Walker Quintet, Alexander Brown Sextet, Brian Dickinson Trio, and the Harley Card Quintet. Ethan has been on faculty at The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and is currently on faculty at the Humber College Community Music Program.